Hofstra dropping football program
 

Hofstra dropping football program
By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com
Archive Hofstra University is dropping its football team, citing high costs and low interest from the college community. The university, which has fielded a football team for the last 69 years, told its coaching staff Thursday morning that it is dropping the sport, sources told ESPN.com.


The Pride, which has competed in the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision since 1991, is the second member of the Colonial Athletic Association to drop its football program in the last 10 days. Northeastern University in Boston announced it was dropping its football program after 74 seasons on Nov. 23.


In a statement obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, university president Stuart Rabinowitz says "the choice was painful but clear."
He says factors include the cost of running the football program and the team's inability to generate significant interest, financial support or attendance.


The decision follows a two-year review of sports spending at Hofstra. Rabinowitz says there are no plans to cut any other sports at the Long Island school.Hofstra has an enrollment of 12,400 students and is located in Hempstead, N.Y., on Long Island.


School officials told ESPN.com that athletics director Jack Hayes and football coach Dave Cohen were unavailable for comment Thursday morning.
CAA commissioner Thomas Yeager was unavailable for comment, conference spokesman Scott Meyer said.


The Pride went 5-6 this past season, tying for third with a 3-5 record in the CAA North. Hofstra has produced five NFL draft picks since 1991, including New Orleans Saints star receiver Marques Colston and Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Willie Colon. Former Pride quarterback Giovanni Carmazzi was a third-round choice of the San Francisco 49ers in 2000, and former New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet played there.


Mark Schlabach covers college football for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.


Hofstra Pride of Football Championship Subdivision dropping its football program - ESPN

Re: Hofstra dropping football program
 

dang.....colston cant feel too good about this

Re: Hofstra dropping football program
 

Yeah, that's a real bummer. I believe he donated a good chunk of money last year to keep it going for that season.

Re: Hofstra dropping football program
 

Wow. I've never heard of colleges actually dropping the program altogether...

Re: Hofstra dropping football program
 

Dam Shame if you ask me.

Re: Hofstra dropping football program
 

I do feel sorry for Colston. Homecoming just won't have the same feel. Hopefully they have a Rugby team to watch, which is what happened at SLU when they cut the football program.

Re: Hofstra dropping football program
 

SLU in Hammond.

Re: Hofstra dropping football program
 

Guess we can't find any more gems out there!

Re: Hofstra dropping football program
 

Boston University in 1997